People, products, and ideas putting their energy in the right place

They make the truths convenient, the planes fly on coconut oil, the rock 'n' roll lifestyle tread lightly. Introducing this year's eco-illuminators—the people, products, and concepts that put their energy, and our planet, in the right place.

ELLE's 2008 Green Awards

ELLE's 2008 Green Awards

Man Of The House

What's Brad Pitt doing in the Lower Ninth Ward? Helping to rebuild the hurricane-devastated community, sustainably. Late last year, Pitt launched the Make It Right project to develop green, affordable, safe homes for 150 families displaced by Katrina; the first house is expected to be finished by summer's end. Designed by visionary architects, some from as far afield as Ghana and Japan, the homes are modern pods set on stilts to promote natural cooling and combat flood damage. They're outfitted with solar panels and front porches that encourage that Southern tradition: visitin'. So far, Pitt has ponied up $5 million to offset the cost to residents, who are eligible for need-based financing, and more than half of the 150 homes have been sponsored by donors, who include Donna Karan, Lorne Michaels, Warren Buffett, and Don Henley. You, your friends, and their friends can pool resources to sponsor one too, at Makeitrightnola.org.